Cosmetic holder



Feb. 23, 1937. R, Nl HOUUHAN 2,071,747

COSMETIC HOLDER Filed Aug. 30, 1935 7INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1937 r orties COSMETIC HOLDER.

Rudolph N. Houlihan, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to rIhe Bridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut Application August 30, 1933, Serial'No. 687,464

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders rfor cosmetics, medicated products and the like, such for vexample as lipsticks, eyebrow pencils, pomades, deodorants and so forth,l and where I have used the word cosmetic in the specication and claims I use it in a general sense as meaning any of these products.

An object of the invention is to provide a holder for these and similar materials which may be easily operated by the thumb of the hand in which it is held to project the material for use and retract it after use, and which includes means for positively securing the material in the desired position. It is thus adapted for one hand operation.

Another object is to provide a holder as indicated and which is of simple and economical construction whereby it may be manufactured at low cost.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig, l is a iront elevational View showing the improved holder with the parts so positioned that the cosmetic is projected for use;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 3;-3 of Fig. 1, the view being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Y Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts with the operating and locking means in released position as when the cosmetic is being projected or retracted;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a cover or closure member, a portion of the same being broken away to show the structure;

Fig. 7 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing a slight modication;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing another modl- Vficatiori;

Fig.v 9 is a View looking vfrom the lower end of Fig. 8;A

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional View through (Cl. 20G-56) a portion of a further modified construction; and

Fig, 11 is a similar View showing still another construction.

Referringv in detail to the drawing and at first particularly to Figs. 1 through 6, the improved cosmetic holder includes a body or casing I5 shown as rectangular in cross section. However, as the description proceeds it will become evident that the sectional conguration of. the casing is not controlling but may be varied to suit different tastes, and that my invention may be used equally as well with holders of different shapes of cross section, such for example as round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, and so forth.

Casing I5 is elongated and is provided in one wall with a longitudinally extending slot I6 and with notches Il opening through the edges of said slot. These notches are arranged at spaced points along the slot and are so arranged that the notches in one edge of the slot are directly opposite the notches in the other edge of the slot so that the notches in effect are arranged in pairs and represent spaced enlargements along the length of the slot.

Casing or body I5 has its lower end closed by any suitable means such as a cap I8 which may be either permanently or removably positioned on the body, and it will be noted particularly by reference to Fig. l that the slot extends through the upper or open end of the body and terminates in a pair of notches II at the upper or inner edge of the cap I8. When the holder is not in use its upper or open end is closed by a cover member I9 which as shown in Fig. 6 is elongated and is of such length as to extend over all that portion of the body above the inner edge of the cap I8. Closure IQ is of course hollow and in the lower edge of one of its walls it is provided with a notch 2li, the purpose of which will later be described.

Mounted to slide within the body I5 there is arranged a cosmetic carrier ZI comprising a receptacle open at its upper or outer endand including a bottom wall against which may beV pressed the inner end of a lipstick o-r other pencil-like cosmetic 22. As shown, the cosmetic 22 is of considerable greater length than the carrier ZI whereby a large portion of the cosmetic projects beyond the carrier to be available for use.

The carrier is projected, retracted and secured in different positions by a spring element attached thereto. In the form of Figs. 1 to 5y in its bottom wall the carrier 2l is provided with an opening 23 through which is passed an arm 24 of a. substantially L-shaped spring, the arm 25 of which is disposed at the side of the carrier and normally engages or bears against the inner surface of the slotted Wall of the body. The passing of the arm 24 of the spring through the opening 23 in the bottom wall of the carrier provides a cheap and convenient means for attaching the spring to the carrier and it will beV understood that as the arm 25 of the spring presses against a wall of the body the arm 24 of the spring will press against the bottom wall of the carrier.

Extending through the slot I6 is an operating member 26 to be used for shifting the carrier toward and from the open end of the body. This operating member includes a shank 27 and a head 28 the latter being disposed at the outer side of the body I5. As here disclosed the inner end of the shank 21 is passed through the spring arm 25 and riveted over as at 29 whereby the operating member is securely attached to said spring arm. At the outer side of the spring arm the operating member is provided with an enlargement or projection 39 which, as shown, rests directly against the spring arm whereby the latter is clamped between the enlargement and the upset or headed end 29 of the shank of the operating member.

The shank 21 of operating member 26 is of such diameter that it may move freely through the slot I6. However, the enlargement 30 on said shank is of such size or diameter as to be accommodated only in the enlarged portions of the slot, said enlarged portions being represented or formed by the notches I'I. It will be apparent that when the operating member is so positioned that enlargement 30 is opposite a pair of the notches I1 the spring 25 will act to shift the operating member outwardly and dispose said enlargement in the notches. The parts are shown in this position in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 and it will be appreciated that with the parts thus positioned the carrier is locked in position in the body. Therefore pressure on the exposed end of .the cosmetic in use will not force the carrier back into the casing.

Figs. 1, 3, and 5 show the parts with the carrier adjusted outwardly so that the cosmetic is projected through the open end of the body for use. To shift the carrier in the body the head 28 of the operating member is engaged as by the thumb of the hand supporting the holder and is pressed inwardly to dispose the enlargement 39 at the inner side of the slotted Wall of the body. Now, the operating member may be shifted in either direction longitudinally of the slot I6 to shift the carrier toward Vor from the open end of the body. When the carrier has been shifted as desired its position should be such that the enlargement 30 of the operating member is located opposite a pair of notches I'I and when the operating member is released the springnwill operate to dispose the enlargement Vin these notches and lock the carrier in this position. The unlocking and shifting of the carrier is a simple and natural operation as a combined pressure and pushing upwardly of the thumb will unlock the carrier and move it toward the open end of the casing. The retracting of the carrier in the casing is as easily performed as it requires merely an inward pressure of the thumb and then a drawing down movement.

1f the carrier is thus locked with the cosmetic projected for use, it will be understood that the pressure of applying the cosmetic will not force the carrier and the cosmetic into the casing. The positioning of the `enlargement in the notches locks the parts in adjusted position and it will be understood that the innermost notches are so located as to receive the enlargement 36 of the operating member when the carrier is fully retracted. When the carrier is fully retracted the cosmetic is not in use and the cover I9 is applied to the body, the notch 29 at the inner end of the cover accommodating the shank or the stem of the operating member.

Referring now to Fig. 7 the carrier 3| of that figure has a portion lanced and pressed outwardly from a side wall thereof providing a spring arm 32 corresponding in its function with the spring arm 25 of Figs. 1 through 5. The operating member 26 is connected to the spring arm 32 by heading over the inner end of the shank of said operating member and the spring arm 32 acts to dispose the projection or enlargement 3G 0f the operating member in a selected one of the notches I'l' as will be understood.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a further slight modification and in these gures a portion of the bottom Wall of a carrier 33 is lanced and pressed therefrom and bent upwardly into a position at the side thereof to provide a spring arm 34. The operating member 26 is attached to this spring arm 34 and is used for shifting the carrier 33 toward and from the open end of the casing I5 so as to project the cosmetic for use and retract it after use as will be understood. Spring arm 31'., of course, acts to supply a certain friction between the carrier and the slotted Wall of the body as do the spring arms above referred to and also serves toV press the operating member outwardly to dispose the enlargement 39 in a pair of the notches to lock the carrier and cosmetic in adjusted position. As,will be particularly noted in Fig. 9 when forming the spring arm 34 from a portion of the bottom of the carrier a considerable marginal portion of the said bottom wall 33a. should be left in place so that the cosmetic will not be pressed through the carrier.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the carrier 35 is shown as having a portion lanced and bent from its bottom wall to provide a spring arm 36. This arm 36 is bent to extend downwardly in a position laterally of a carrier and engages the slotted Wall of the body I5 and has the operating member 26 secured thereto as has been described. Spring arm 36 functions exactly as do the spring arms of the figures previously described and further description is therefore believed unnecessary.

According to the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 11 a carrier 31 has spaced portions 38 lanced and bent therefrom and extending in opposite directions. A bowed spring 39 is provided and has its end portions received under the lanced portions 38 of the carrier whereby the spring is attached to the carrier, and an end or the ends of the spring may slide under these lanced portions when the spring is depressed. The operating member 26 is provided and extends through the slot I6 in the casing I5 and has its inner end portion connected with the bowed central portion of the spring 39 and is adapted to be shifted along the slot I6 to shift the carrier 31 to project or retract the cosmetic 22. The central portion of the spring 39 is normally in engagement with the slotted wall of the casing I5 and serves to project the enlargement 30 of the operating member into a pair of the notches I1 to lock the carrier in th'e desired adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a cosmetic holder including but a relatively few parts each of which may be made at low cost and which parts may be easily and quickly assembled to provide the complete holder. Further it will be apparent that the holder may be operated to project or retract the cosmetic by the thumb of the hand supporting the holder. The spring arm of the various forms will serve to press the enlargement 3B of the operating member against a side wall of the body or into a pair of the notches depending on the location of the operating member so that in the irst instance there will be friction to retain the carrier in adjusted position and in the second instance the carrier will be locked in adjusted position. Of course, the closure I9 may be applied to any of the various forms disclosed.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a cosmetic holder, a body having an open end and a slot in one side wall, a carrierin said body and shiftable toward and from said open end, said carrier having an opening in a wall, an L-shaped spring, said spring having one arm disposed in the carrier through said opening and having its other arm located at the side of the carrier and normally bearing against the inner surface of the slotted wall of the body opposite the carrier, an operating member extending through said slot and at its inner end connected with said other arm of the spring and shiftable along said slot to shift the carrier toward and from the open end of the body, said body having notches opening through an edge of said slot, and a projection on said operating member and adapted to be pressed into a selected one of said notches by said spring on release of the operating member.

2. In a cosmetic holder, a body having an open end and a slot in one side wall, a carrier in said body and shiftable toward and from said open end, said carrier having portions lanced and pressed therefrom at spaced points, a bowed spring having its ends disposed under said portions of the carrier and having its intermediate portion normally engaging the inner surface of the slotted wall of the body, an operating member extending through said slot and at its inner end connected with the spring and shiftable along said slot to shift the carrier toward and from the open end of the body, said body having notches opening through an edge of said slot, and a projection on said operating member and adapted to be pressed into a selected one of said notches by said spring on release of the operating member.

3. A cosmetic holder comprising a body having an open end and a longitudinal slot in a side wall with a series of spaced notches in an edge of the slot, a cosmetic carrier inthe body slidable toward and from said open end and guided by the walls of the body, a spring arm connected to the carrier and extending longitudinally thereof between the carrier and the slotted wall of the body, a pin on said arm having a portion of a width greater than the width of the slot between the notches and of a size to seat in said notches under action of the spring arm to hold the carrier in different adjusted positions, said pin having a reduced portion outwardly of said rst portion of a width to slide through the narrow portions of the slot, said arm being yieldable inwardly toward' the carrier to remove the Vsaid first mentioned portion of the pin fromr the notches, and said pin projecting outwardly through the slot and having a head to be pressedinwardly by a finger of the operator to remove said pin from a notch and slide the carrier in the body.

RUDOLPH N. I-IOULIHAN. 

